Judge slams Legal Aid over "false economy"

Victoria Legal Aid has cut costs to make the service more effective, but the move has been criticised.

A Supreme Court judge has challenged Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) over its funding restrictions, labelling them as a "false economy for the community".

A third criminal trial is at risk of being put on hold indefinitely after Legal Aid refused to fund a day-to-day solicitor for the duration of the trial.

It also knocked back a funding application for a second barrister after its bid for a solicitor failed.

This morning Justice Betty King demanded a representative from VLA attend court to explain its decision.

Louise James for VLA told the court the attempted murder trial did not meet the test required for additional counsel.

Judge King queried the decision.

"It costs a lot more to have this court's time wasted than it does to provide an instructing solicitor," she said.

Judge King also questioned the option of VLA funding for a second barrister.

"So the public utterings that this isn't really a big problem because someone can always apply for two counsel really means not much because most of them will not fall within the category of requiring two counsel?" she said.

The judge criticised the effectiveness of the cost cutting measures.

"It really would be a false economy for the community, which is what this is supposed to be about," she said.

Ms James said the defence had the opportunity to ask for VLA to reconsider its application in light of more complex issues being raised in court.

Last week, Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark supported Legal Aid and its decision to restrict funding for criminal trials in the state.